Every single person in our family can’t pass up a homemade s’more by the fire. But it’s our oldest daughter who actually lives for them. She’s the first one digging for the jumbo marshmallows and Hershey bars when a fire is lit when camping with extended family each summer. And when Blake fires up the charcoal grill in the back yard, we know what will be Hatti’s request for dessert. Yes, s’mores.
It took all the patience Hatti could muster to leave me alone to take pictures of these Fudgy S’more Brownies with Toasted Marshmallow Meringue. She and Tessa had a girlfriend over to play for the afternoon, and they kept “checking in on my progress”. {AKA…”seeing if I was finally done so they could eat them!”} I had to laugh when our young friend solemnly confessed, after wiping the meringue from the sides of her mouth with the back of her hand, “I sure don’t get anything like this at my house”.
Ahhhh…these are so fun. A dark, chewy, fudgy brownie base, topped with a glossy chocolate ganache. And then a big ol’ swirl of light and fluffy marshmallow meringue, toasted per campfire specs. You just can’t help but smile.
Ingredients
- 1/2 c. unsalted butter, diced
- 3 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 1-1/2 c. sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp. instant espresso powder
- 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 3/4 c. flour
- 1/4 c. heavy cream
- 1 T. light corn syrup
- pinch of salt
- 3/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips (I like Guittard brand.)
- 4 egg whites
- 1 c. sugar
- a large pinch of cream of tartar
- graham crackers, broken into irregular pieces
Preparation
Preheat oven to 325°. Fold a long piece of heavy foil into a 13" wide strip and fit it inside a 9"x13" metal baking pan, leaving foil overhang on the 2 long sides. Spray the foil with nonstick spray.
Stir the butter and chocolate in a large heavy saucepan over very low heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and whisk in the sugar, and then the eggs, 1 at a time. Whisk in espresso powder, vanilla, and salt. Then sift the flour over the chocolate mixture and stir to blend well. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
Bake brownies until slightly puffed and dry-looking and tester inserted into center comes out with some moist batter attached, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on rack.
Run a knife around the inside edge of the brownie pan. Use the overhanging foil as an aid and gently lift the brownies from the pan. The pan I used produces a brownie that is 1/2" thick. Be sure your cookie cutter is taller than 1/2". Press round biscuit cutter (mine was 2-1/4'' in diameter) firmly into the cooled brownie. Use a thin metal spatula to lift the cookie cutter filled with brownie from the foil. Gently press the brownie out of the biscuit cutter. Repeat the cutting process until your brownie looks like a big piece of swiss cheese.
Place all glaze ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Cool for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the glaze is thickened, but still pourable. Stir until completely smooth, then drop a large teaspoonful onto the center of a brownie round, and spread it out to the edges. Repeat until all brownie rounds are glazed. Let set while preparing the marshmallow meringue.
In a medium heat-proof bowl (if you have a stand mixer, use that bowl), combine the egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar. Place bowl over a pan of simmering water (or use a double boiler), making sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water. Whisk ingredients until sugar is dissolved and egg whites are warmed to 145°. This should take about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove bowl from heat and place on stand mixer. Using the whisk attachment, start beating on low until the mixture thickens just a bit. Then turn speed up to high until stiff, glossy peaks form. This should take about 10 minutes. Spoon meringue into a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip (I used Ateco #808) and swirl onto the glazed brownie rounds. Use a kitchen torch to gently toast the meringue. Finish by inserting a broken piece of graham cracker into the meringue.
These keep very well refrigerated for a day or two.
Source
Marshmallow meringue adapted from The Italian Dish.
We lit our first s’more-making-fire in our new fire pit last night. After living in our late 60′s home for 8 years now, we really haven’t put much into our yard beyond a few bushes, alot of perennials (many transplanted from the farm in SD and my sister Jessica’s house), and many hours of necessary un-glorious maintenance labor.
Like most people, we have a running project wish list. This is the year we finally decided to bite off a little chunk outdoors, to deal with a couple areas that have caused us nothing but grief since we first moved in. And we threw in some fun, too, with a back yard fire pit patio – which was a double blessing, as it eliminated a big perennial area that I just don’t have the time to keep up with any more!
I love to dig in the dirt, plant and transplant, etc. But what we wanted to achieve required more than what Blake and I were physically capable of. So we hired Buell’s Landscape Center to help us out. We just can’t say enough about Greg Buell and his crew. They were great to work with, and we’re so thankful they helped us cross off a few items on our outdoor project wish list. We highly recommend them. Without their help, we couldn’t have enjoyed last evening around our fire, spinning our marshmallows to toasty perfection. I’m looking forward to many more years of s’more making memories around our fire.
Love these! So creative!!
Emily @ She Makes and Bakes recently posted..Polenta Crackers
Those are too cute
Erin recently posted..Bacon and Broccoli Mac and Cheese
Luscious brownies, I love the toasted meringue topping!
These are fabulous, I love that they almost look like cupcakes!
These look totally incredible!! I love anything with s’mores flavors, and these are just so beautiful!
Glory/ Glorious Treats recently posted..Caramel Cream Cheese Apple Dip
Oh boy…these look insanely delicious!
I loved reading your post. Your daughter Hatti and my daughter Lily could be good friends. Lily loves S’mores better than any treat on earth. I have so many fond memories of our family gathered round a campfire making S’more. I can’t wait to make your S’more brownie twist for her.
Calli recently posted..Easy Autumn Apple Crisp
I adore the marshmallow meringue! And your fire pit looks incredible Wish I could join you!
cassie recently posted..Sriracha Balsamic Vinaigrette | Sriracha Week Roundup
I am the same way when it comes to s’mores! If there is an opportunity to make them, I don’t pass it up!
I love how you made these brownies with a toasted marshmallow meringue!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction recently posted..Chunky Garden Vegetable Spaghetti Sauce
You did it again Brenda! I love your pretty baked goods! You are very creative and these are adorable. What did you do with the brownie scraps? I bet they did not go into the garbage!
My daughter is lukewarm about chocolate but she LOVES marshmallows. When we make s’mores, she’s the most likely to just eat a toasted marshmallow and leave the rest. I’m not sure we’re even related! These cupcakes are gorgeous. I really need to try this marshmallow frosting.
Jen @ Jen’s Favorite Cookies recently posted..Chocolate Yogurt Granola Bars
Those look delicious, but my first thought was, “look at all that wasted brownie!?!”
Shiloh recently posted..Mushroom Pancetta Fajita Quesadilla
we don’t get much like this at our house either!
they look AMAZING
i’m so jealous of your fire pit……. we don’t have enough of a back yard to make one, but i still beg and beg to put one in (pretty sure we would end up catching the house on fire if we did, by “we” i mean “i”… i would end up catching the house on fire…)
@Shiloh – you could save the leftover brownie in the freezer to use for ice cream add-ins…. or just eat them as is! i mean, ya know… for quality control.
natalie recently posted..thursday things
These are so cute
when I make s’mores I love setting the marshmallow in fire. It’s sad how s’more season will soon be over 
Becca-cookie jar treats recently posted..2nd Blogiversary Celebrated with some Fantastic Treats
Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly see anymore creative S’mores treats on the web, you come up with these little beauties! Thank You!
Paula recently posted..The Ultimate Canadian Cocktail – Friday Cocktail Party with Creative Culinary
These look so adorable and delicious!
brenda, these look divine! i love smores!
nest of posies recently posted..Going Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
Wow, these look like S’mores heaven! I would love one of these around the campfire!
Mercedes recently posted..Top 12 Peanut Butter Recipes for National Peanut Day 2012
These are ridiculously cute! I’d eat way too many of them myself
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel recently posted..Spiced Apple Upside-Down Cake
Delicious! These sound incredibly and unbelievably delicious <3
Living The Sweet Life recently posted..Double Cookies and Cream Nutella Cookies
Oh YUM!! Brownies AND marshmallow meringue, SOLD!!
These are too cute! My child of a husband would love these =)
Peggy recently posted..How to Butterfly Shrimp
Yummy ! This looks so delicious! And you did great decoration job! Perfect!!!
Vera Zecevic – Cupcakes Garden recently posted..Spiderweb Cupcakes
Perfect swirl and amount of toasting–I’m still learning to use my kitchen torch properly
Aly recently posted..Simple Blueberry Muffins
These look like the perfect s’mores treat!
These are so gorgeous! I’ve had my kitchen torch for going on 7 years and I still haven’t mustered up the courage to use it. Obviously need to change that soon!
Kathy – Panini Happy recently posted..Waffle Sandwiches…and a Weelicious Giveaway!
You MUST get that torch out and use it, girl!! It’s alotta fun!!
Those look delicious! I am yet to learn how to make those beautiful swirls you have on top of your brownies.